July 1 to July 4, 2021 Jen Hadley Peak 25 miles 8,000 feet gained 3 nights
Finally got up here! For the past several years, I've signed up for climbs on various mountains in these parts( Ragged Ridge x2) that were always cancelled. For rain-in August! This year I got onto a Baker climb during my vacation week, and scheduled several days of explore time afterwards. We did not complete the climb. Went up Heliotrope Ridge and camped o...
July 1, 2021 Sarah Johnson Ed'S Trail 10.1 miles 2,500 feet gained
Was initially going to go early in the day, but I had a friend who offered to come with who couldn't leave Portland until 2:00 pm. We knew we weren't going to be able to drive the road, as it is rumored to be one of the worst forest roads in existence. At a friends suggestion of where the road gets bad, we opted to just park at the junction in a turnout. We ...
June 30 to July 4, 2021 Woodswalker Slide Connector 30 miles 5,750 feet gained 4 nights
Fantastic trip out to the Strawberries. We did Strawberry Mountain, Strawberry and Little Strawberry Lakes, Slide Lake and an off trail to Slide Falls. Very buggy right now except for Strawberry Lake. The exposed meadows along the trails are full of wildflowers, but the wildflowers in the lake basins have a few blooms but aren't going strong yet. The section...
June 29, 2021 runandsew Phelps Creek 5 miles 2,500 feet gained
Hiked with my partner for the Wonderland Trail for the first time and it went really well. We'll be having a great trek.
June 26 to June 27, 2021 runandsew Timberline Trail 4 miles 1,250 feet gained 1 night
June 25, 2021 Woodswalker Lamberson Butte 4 miles 750 feet gained
Went up with some friends who work at Meadows to explore the new short connector trails up there. We eventually made it up to Timberline and tried to make it to Heather Canyon but without spikes it was to slow and slippery to make our way across the snow fields on steep terrain. Took the ski lift back down. Great day!
June 25 to June 26, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Buckhorn Mountain 20.3 miles 5,000 feet gained 1 night
Trying to beat the heat left late Friday morning and reached the The Tubal Cain TH early afternoon. Made camp at my top secret location up by the pass at around 6500'. Very mild temps for this time of year and at this elevation with overnight temps in the low 60's. Rose early the next day and and could tell it was going to be a scorcher and we wanted to get ...
June 24, 2021 Jen Silver Star Mountain 8 miles 2,750 feet gained
Went up via the south ridge and Indian Pits. Was here exactly one year ago, where there was some beargrass here and there. Today, every single beargrass plant was blooming from 3500 ft on up. I'm covered with pollen! GLORIOUS
June 20, 2021 Sarah Johnson Duncan Creek 4.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
It was too hot to do much of anything but go play in water on Sunday. This week's heatwave is going to be brutal.
June 19 to June 20, 2021 runandsew Newton Creek 1.5 miles 500 feet gained 1 night
Just wanted to get out and catch the Milky Way in the half hour between when the moon went down and daylight began ~~ 2:30am to 3am.
June 18 to June 19, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Buckhorn Mountain 13 miles 4,250 feet gained 1 night
The Upper Big Quilcene TH was packed when we arrived Friday at 11AM. Appeared there were a lot of first timers on the trail with all the questions we got. All the campsites at Camp Mystery we’re taken which caused us no bother as I like to camp high up on Boulder Ridge. We were going to hike to the summit of Buckhorn but the peak itself was fogged in so we t...
June 16, 2021 Woodswalker Horse Heaven Buttes 20.5 miles 15,250 feet gained
Had a fantastic trip in Lassen National Park after it was clear that Yosemite would be too hot. Hiked up high early in the day and sat in lakes all afternoon. We explored King Creek Falls area. Stunning alpine meadows feet from the trail head. Summited Brokeoff Mountain. Of course the view is great, but the approach through the meadows and tarns was amazing....
June 13, 2021 runandsew Multnomah Creek Way 8.5 miles 2,000 feet gained
Rainy morning, but beautiful!
June 11 to June 13, 2021 Sarah Johnson Stuart Lake Trailhead 15 miles 3,750 feet gained 2 nights
Due to a dropout, I was invited by my friend Anibal to join on a two day trip in the Enchantments. 5 Venezuelans, 1 Persian, and 2 Americans made for an interesting group. The forecast wasn't great, so I made sure to pack extra clothing in case of steady showers. We all weighed our packs at the trailhead, and I won the prize of heaviest pack, at almost 40 l...
June 10, 2021 Jen Shellrock Peak 10 miles 3,000 feet gained
Wow, this was a really cool mountaintop! A long cirque ridge, with cool layered pillars. It felt like walking the outer walls of an ancient fortress. I was able to drive to the Ironstone Mtn TH at over 6000 ft on Bethel Ridge. All of the open south facing slopes were lovely with xeric rock gardens, but on north side of ridge, and in the saddles, there were p...
June 10, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Wagonwheel Lake 6.2 miles 4,000 feet gained
The trail up to Wagon Wheel Lake is a steep one. The lake is nothing to get excited about and most people I know do it one time and vow never again. My friend Josh felt that way but I told him with a bit more effort and you could climb up to Cub Peak and would be rewarded with some nice views. While the weather was not optimal with a little bit of everything...
June 9, 2021 Jen Purcell Mountain 7 miles 2,750 feet gained
Snow above 4000 ft made for slow going, but I was still able to follow the trail for the most part. Lovely steep meadows up high full of glacier lillies.
June 6, 2021 Sarah Johnson South Sister 7 miles 1,500 feet gained
Both Mountain forecast and NOAA had high wind predictions, mostly clear skies turning into partly cloudy. We decided to stretch our legs anyway, with the idea we would turn around when conditions were no longer fun. We stayed at nearby Elk Lake Campground, my friend Tom had booked because we weren't sure if the parking lot at Devil's Lake Trailhead was melte...
May 31, 2021 Jen Mount Hood 7 miles 5,250 feet gained
Went with a small Mazamas group. Tuesday after Memorial Day and the mountain was very quiet, only one person ahead of us who gave us the summit to ourselves when we arrived. Due to concern for the warm weather, we left Tline at 11pm. Traversed the Hot Rocks and came up the old chute. Conditions soft, but not yet mashed potatoes. Got some good glissades below...
May 30 to May 31, 2021 runandsew Cooper Spur 8.5 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
Finally got out in the daylight for a backpack instead of night hiking. Milky Way and stars out before the moon set.
May 29, 2021 Woodswalker Allen Springs Campground 18.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
We searched for something that would be quiet and snow free over Labor day weekend and were super happy with this hike. We started at the Lower Bridge campground TH on the Metolius river. It's just past all the car camping. We hiked for about 3 mile along the river on fisherman's trail's and then scrambled up to the closed dirt road. Which was actually mostl...
May 29 to May 31, 2021 Sarah Johnson School Canyon 9 miles 1,750 feet gained 2 nights
I hate going out on Holiday weekends, but my partner Zane wanted to get in a couple of days of fun before summer camps start. We really liked exploring little badger creek on the 4th of July last year, so thought we would try for a campsite on the rock formations, but go in via School Canyon. We decided the heat would let us decide if we would explore the lo...
May 28 to May 29, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Blue Mountain 11.8 miles 4,000 feet gained 1 night
Hiked the Deer Ridge trail to the Deer Park campground which is closed to car camping this time of year. Just one other person at the campsite besides ourselves. Nice kid from New York who joined us for some company around the campfire. Next morning after a frosty night, glad I brought my 15 degree bag, hiked to the top of Blue Mountain w/ it's expansive 360...
May 26 to May 28, 2021 Jen Crabtree Lake 11.5 miles 2,250 feet gained 2 nights
The forecast told me the rain would cease after 11am. I got to the TH for Crabtree Valley at 1pm and it was still raining hard. I took the short hike to nearby Crabtree mountain instead. Logging road with intermittent snow drifts. The rain did stop, but the trees kept on with their drip drip drip. Camped nearby and awoke to sunny skies next day. Lots of old ...
May 23, 2021 Sarah Johnson Mill Creek Spring Spur 10 miles 1,250 feet gained
First group hike in a very long time. Got an invite from my pal Matt Reeder to check out a seldom used trail. We brought along tools and tried to clear sections of trail but it really needs a lot of work. We did a casual cleanup as we hiked. Really great flower display and interesting bones, but very windy as it looked like wet weather was moving in. Trails ...
May 22, 2021 Woodswalker Bray Gulch 9.1 miles 1,500 feet gained
I had a wonderful trip to southern Oregon visiting old friends. We did a short hike that went around the edges of a piece of land we both lived on years ago. We started at the Tunnel Ridge TH and hiked west over near the headwaters of Muddy Gulch and Birch Creek. The trail is flat once you get up to the Ditch and goes for miles in either direction. Tons of P...
May 22, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Mount Townsend 7.5 miles 3,000 feet gained
Started at the upper TH. A bit of snow to navigate off and on but nothing in our case which necessitated putting on traction. Nice clear day so the views from the top were sublime.
May 19, 2021 Sarah Johnson Lindsey Pond 6 miles 2,750 feet gained
Obligatory dog on dog mountain. Took an evening stroll and had the top to ourselves. Ran into my pal Tom Shi on my way up fulfilling his springtime requirement with Fredo.
May 18, 2021 Jen Wildcat Mountain 12 miles 1,500 feet gained
This was the first hike described in the 2001 edition of "50 Hikes in the Tillamook State Forest". I can only recommend it as a winter hike. Gentle climb on logging road with a few bits of mature forest. However, I will definitely return on mountain bike! Lots of roads to explore, behind locked gates, no OHVs allowed. No sign of party pigs. The summit road l...
May 17, 2021 Jen Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 4 miles 750 feet gained
Had an afternoon thing in The Dalles, so I went for a little stroll across the river afterwards. The big flower display is done, but some hardy summer flowers are out. It was quite windy, and the 2-3 foot high grasses undulating in the wind was mesmerizing.
May 17, 2021 Woodswalker Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 10.3 miles 2,250 feet gained
The phlox is at peak at the top. We added a few extra miles on just because. The forest is such a lovely shade of green right now! The clouds briefly rolled aside just as we hit the top.
May 16, 2021 Sarah Johnson Grassy Knoll 4.5 miles 1,250 feet gained
I was not feeling great yesterday, and the sun was draining. Long (but beautiful) drive out on forest roads. I previously avoided this hike because I didn't think a Prius would make it, but the long gravel road was smooth sailing the whole way. I really want to get out on some of these Gifford backroads and bring my mountain bike. The boulders reported block...
May 16 to May 17, 2021 runandsew Palmer Glacier 4 miles 2,750 feet gained 1 night
First hike up to Palmer this year and what a beautiful day. Caught the Milky Way, two falling stars and the Elon Musk satellites the night before.
May 16, 2021 Woodswalker Archer Mountain 7.5 miles 2,250 feet gained
Beautiful day hiking the rim loop clockwise. The flowers are going strong in many of the hanging meadows. I heard from another hike that bees were swarming on Archer Mountain and we saw them swarming around a tree at the edge of a lookout point as well. The falls even had some water still flowing. Great day.
May 13, 2021 Sarah Johnson Latourell Falls 5 miles 1,000 feet gained
Visited a couple gorge trails that I normally avoid due to popularity. It was nice way to spend the afternoon with my dog Lily. Hardly saw anyone on the Latourell Falls loop.
May 13, 2021 Jen Underhill Campground 5 miles 500 feet gained
Checked out the Underhill Trail and a few other spots. Looking for morels. Big zero. Even in the areas where the snow was still receding, it seemed too late. Feels so dry over there.
May 11 to May 13, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Graves Creek 30.8 miles 3,000 feet gained 2 nights
First day we hiked in about 10 miles and made base camp at Pyrites Creek. Next day hiked up the 3 miles to the Enchanted Valley where the old chalet is located. From there we hiked further up the valley about 2 miles to the "world largest recorded western hemlock." There was quite a bit of black bear activity in the area. We sighted a dozen bears during our ...
May 11, 2021 Woodswalker Sherrard Point 15.3 miles 4,000 feet gained
Glorious day in the gorge. The water flow is low but the wildflowers are popping. Relatively uncrowded near the falls and just a few people further up the trail. I had the summit to myself. There's still solid snow starting about half a mile from the parking lot but it was shallow and well consolidated. The main bootpath actually heads up a few hundred feet ...
May 10, 2021 Sarah Johnson Muskrat 12 miles 5,500 feet gained
What better way to start a new week freshly unemployed but to stare into the gaping maw of a volcano to question your future? Today was a struggle with a 3 am start, every morsel of food I packed seemed completely unappetizing, and once the sun hit the snow our pale Portland skin was fried no matter how we covered up. My third summit of Mt St Helens but some...
May 7, 2021 Sarah Johnson Coopey Falls 4.5 miles 1,500 feet gained
Just a short and sweet trek up on a weekday to get the blood moving.
May 5, 2021 Woodswalker Gorton Creek 9.8 miles 3,000 feet gained
Great day out at Herman Creek. I went up the ridge via Gorton Trail to one of my favorite lunch spots. Peak 3152.
May 2, 2021 Sarah Johnson 11 miles 1,750 feet gained
Opted for an easy stroll up Grayback after the sufferfest up Defiance last weekend. One of my favorite hikes for solitude. Mount Adams was out and looking pretty majestic. Maybe I'll have to take a stroll up there soon....
May 2, 2021 Father Guido Sarducci Mount Ellinor 6 miles 3,250 feet gained
My brother had never climbed Mt. Ellinor before so with a fair weather picture predicted we headed out to the Lake Cushman area. One can now easily drive to the lower TH and that's where we started. Only way up still is via the winter route and the avalanche chute was in good shape. The climb from the bottom of the avalanche chute to the summit is around 150...
April 29, 2021 Woodswalker Old Salmon River 8.9 miles 3,000 feet gained
We made it to about a half mile from the top. Solid ice alternating with steep sloped sliding slush defeated us even with micro spikes, Still it was wonderful.
April 27 to April 28, 2021 Jen Red Hill 13.5 miles 3,000 feet gained 1 night
Had a great trip in the vicinity of Clarno. I first went to the Hanock Field Station and did a loop hike in the Clarno Unit backcountry. Saw fossils, a petrified tree, and visited the Red Hill and Whitecapped Knoll. 4.5 miles, 750 ft gain. I then drove down nearby Clarno Road to the Spring Basin Wilderness trailheads. Was going to car camp there and get an e...
April 27, 2021 Woodswalker 13 miles 1,000 feet gained
I had never been to Cottonwood canyon and I wanted to go before it got too hot. Great day with some easy off trail climbing up high for amazing overlooks of the John Day River. The Balsam Root is starting to fade, but the phlox and Bicolor lilies were blooming. Wonderful day!
